,
Revolutionary War Historical Article
The American Revolution Month-by-Month February 1780
By Compatriot Andrew "Andy" Stough
Editor's Note: This article was reprinted by Permission of the Gold Country Chapter No. 7 of the CSSAR and was slightly edited by the Sons of Liberty Chapter of the CSSAR
No military encounters of strategic importance occurred in the north during the month of February, 1780, but on February 3rd, the "Battle of Young’s House" was fought. This residence, located in Mount Pleasant, Westchester County, New York, was occupied by an American force of 450 men consisting of troops from Connecticut and Massachusetts and commanded by Lt. Colonel Joseph Thompson of Massachusetts.
Westchester County appears to have been a hotbed of dissension between Tories and those supporting the Revolution. The Tory faction also appears to have been the originators of the plan to attack the Americans. At any rate, a British force of two British Guards Regiments, plus a force of Hessians, mounted Jagers, and 100 mounted Tories, made up the force of 550 men. The Tories from Westchester County joined the British force which had set out on February 2nd from Fort Knyphausen (formerly Fort Washington) with the intention of attacking and capturing "Young’s House".
The British and American forces were not even numerically matched (450 Americans vs. the British 400 foot soldiers and 150 mounted horsemen). The American force was not only inferior in numbers but also in battle experience; the most outstanding differences being combat experience, the addition of mounted Jagers, and 100 mounted Tories from Westchester County. These gave the British Commander Colonel Norton an advantage not only of men but also overwhelming mobility.
The attack on "Young’s House" began when the perimeter guard force was engaged and overrun by Norton’s men. Alerted by the firefight between the perimeter guard and the British, Thompson formed his troops in what appears to have been a U shaped formation around the house. Colonel Norton also spread his force entirely around the house, thereby cutting off any avenue of escape for the Americans. Ward states that there was "a hot exchange of fire for about fifteen minutes." Finally, attacked from all sides, the Americans gave way. Some retreated, forcing their way through the British lines while others took cover in the house. The house was well defended but was overrun and all within the house were killed or captured, including the owner. The final act was to set the house afire before withdrawing the force to return to Fort Knyphausen. American losses were heavy, especially among the officers.
The American leader Lt. Colonel Thompson and seven of his officers were killed. In total, American losses were 14 killed, 37 wounded and 76 taken prisoner. British losses were 5 killed and 18 wounded. While this was a setback, it was quite simply a target of opportunity; not a decisive battle and it had no effect on the further prosecution of the war on either side.
On February 10th, a Spanish Fleet commanded by Admiral Bernardo de Galvez arrived off Mobile in what was then West Florida. British General John Campbell who earlier had a large force of Choctaw Indians was caught with only 18 remaining Choctaws for support of Mobile. When he realized that the Spanish expedition was actually bearing down on him he sent for additional Indians to assist in the defense. Not only was the time too short to allow for the Choctaws to arrive but previous slights, failure to honor promises, and penurious treatment in supplying the Choctaws did not leave the Indians with any sense of urgency. The Choctaws eventually arrived only to find Mobile in Spanish hands. Admiral Galvez left a strong garrison in Mobile then began a move toward Pensacola for a second encounter with Campbell.
Spain was now challenging Britain for control of Florida. Britain faced the possibility of losing all of Florida unless reinforcements could be found. Britain’s ability to reinforce was strained by the posting of troops and the Royal Navy in so many foreign lands and oceans in their now worldwide war. The intervention of Spain in Florida did not directly aid the American Revolution in the short term as Clinton was acting only to control Georgia and the Carolinas. British forces assigned to Florida duty were responsible by themselves to maintain control without assistance. Eventually Spain’s actions would become a factor in the loss of all the Royal Colonies from Florida all the way to Canada.
There was more bad news developing. After the failure of the American attack and siege of Savannah in October of 1779, the people of Charleston felt that Britain’s next move would be against their city and they had doubts about General Benjamin Lincoln’s ability to hold the city if attacked. They were right on both counts but their demand that Lincoln remain in Charleston to protect the city would leave Lincoln and them subject to siege and occupying a battleground. Unlike Washington who could not be pinned down, Lincoln would be under siege by both land and sea and not be able to retreat if his position became untenable.
British General Henry Clinton’s spies (they are only intelligence agents if they are on your side) had informed him that of 10,000 men encamped, Washington had only 4,000 fit for combat or any other rigorous duty. Clinton also noted Lincoln’s lack of ability to defeat an inferior force even with French help. He also knew that Washington, tied up in the north by winter hardships and a lack of able bodied men, was not capable of an attack on New York City, or any other major engagement for the rest of the winter. It was his judgment that with his overwhelming land force and control of the sea that he could afford to launch an attack on Charleston and make it his base for control of the South.
Clinton prepared for his move south by appointing German General Wilhelm von Knyphausen to command all troops in the north during his intended absence on an expedition against Charleston. On December 26th he embarked 8,500 soldiers on ninety transports for the voyage south; destination Charleston, South Carolina. The expedition consisted of regular British infantry, Hessians, and Tories along with artillery and cavalry detachments. He planned to journey south and capture Charleston, establishing it as a base from which he could rally the Loyalists in the two Carolinas and subdue all of the colonies south of Virginia.
The voyage south was long and difficult leaving the fleet scattered due to storms that in one case blew a ship so far east that it reached the coast of Cornwall. The remainder of the fleet was battered and damaged to the point that it must head for the nearest port (Savannah) to at least repair each ship’s sails and rigging and other storm damage before proceeding to Charleston. After 30 days enroute from New York, the first ships made landfall at Tybee Island, where the Savannah River empties into the Atlantic. The fleet, once reassembled, remained at Savannah making repairs until re-embarking on February 10th for Charleston. The next day Clinton landed his army at St. John’s Island some 30 miles south of Charleston. After debarking to establish a base camp, Clinton ordered the Royal Navy to blockade Charleston harbor. That accomplished, he leisurely consolidated his position, using the islands of St. John’s and St. James as a base. He then began a slow and methodical moving of troops and equipment into a position to seal off the land side of Charleston. Instead of striking swiftly, Clinton for some reason continued to march leisurely toward the Ashley River, the last natural barrier to approaching Charleston by land. Arriving at the Ashley on the 7th of March he dawdled there until the end of March.
At this time, the 1st, 2nd and 4th Carolina militia regiments, supported by ranger volunteers and minutemen, totaling over a thousand men, were ordered to stop a Scottish force marching south to reinforce British General Sir Henry Clinton at Charleston. On their route the only available way across a large creek was a bridge with the Carolina militia regiments blocking the Scots from any further movement to the south. The Scots, immigrants and irregulars with combat experience in their homeland, felt confident in their ability to force a passage across the bridge. On February 27th they confidently charged the bridge at Cross Creek, North Carolina. The Scots were quickly defeated and scattered. In the battle 30 Scots were killed, their leaders and 850 soldiers captured along with their weapons and their supply train. The Carolina regiments' total loss was 2 men killed. By this action a considerable reinforcement destined for Clinton at Charleston was blocked.
The coming siege of Charleston, South Carolina, would be a monumental disaster. It marked first time that an entire American army had been defeated and taken as prisoners. It was a defeat unrivalled until World War II and the loss of Bataan and the Philippine Islands.
References: Christopher Ward’s "The War of the American Revolution"; Robert M. Utley's and Wilcomb E. Washburn's "Indian Wars";Don Higginbotham's "The War of American Independence" .
Back to American Revolution Month-by-Month Articles
,